The Gauntlet

"You are leaving already? I hardly see you anymore.", she said.

"You knew how it would be when you agreed to be my wife. I made sure you knew.", he said. 

"I thought you were exaggerating.", she said, her pout almost heard in her voice.

"Well, I am the king, Vasundhara.", he said with a sigh. 

"Exactly! You are the king. Can't you get somebody else to handle your affairs for today?", she asked exasperated.

A good natured smile was the only thing keeping his tired face alive, but, as he turned towards her, the tiredness vanished and the smile was replaced by a mischievous grin. There was a dangerous glint to his eye that those who knew him well had grown to appreciate. Vasundhara missed it of course. They had been married but for 6 months.

Vikramaditya was known for his wisdom and for his quick wit. He never came to a decision without deliberation. But this time it was an easy decision...

"Are you saying being a King is easy? Are you asking me to leave the job for someone else?", he asked gently all the time thinking, "Will she fall for it?"

"Not exactly, but I am sure I can do as good a job as you can, if that is what you are implying!", she said with not little anger.

She had fallen for it. "Well, prove it.", said Vikramaditya with a triumphant grin which he hid from Vasundhara.

"Whatever do you mean?", she asked.

At this precise moment, Vikramaditya called in his personal aide Bhairava and whispered many an order into his willing ear. And at that very instant, all the lamps were extinguished as one, plunging the room into a comfortable darkness.

Vasundhara was not surprised or taken aback as she had become accustomed to Vikramaditya's strange habits. He was in deep thought, this she knew. Suddenly, she heard his urgent voice near her, "Take my hand Vasundhara and follow me." She knew the voice well and knew better than to argue. She had learnt from experience that he would not answer her most persistent inquiries. She followed him down a passage she had not known existed and would not have been able to pin point if asked again. She was blind for all purposes. But with her arm in his, she trusted Vikramaditya completely.

The gauntlet had been thrown...